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US official under fire for Nam hunting photos

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US official under fire for Nam hunting photosUS official under fire for Nam hunting photos A United States wildlife official is being pressured to resign after sharing photographs of a hunting trip in Namibia in which at least 14 wild animals were killed.

Outrage over the photos has spread like wildfire across social media, with Blake Fischer especially coming under fire for boasting about killing a family of baboons.

In one photo, Fischer can be seen smiling with four dead baboons in front of him.

He killed the animals with a bow and arrow.

There has been an ever-louder clamouring for Fischer, who is an Idaho Fish and Game Commission member, to resign from his position. While most have acknowledged that hunts are legal in Namibia, people have described his behaviour has unethical, revolting and disgusting. The controversy was initially reported by the Idaho Statesman and began with an email Fischer sent to colleagues in September. The email was reportedly sent to more than 100 people and detailed his trip to Namibia with his wife. Included in the email were photos of Fisher and his wife posing with animals they shot and killed.





These include a giraffe, a leopard, impala, sable antelope, waterbuck, kudu, warthog, oryx, eland and a family of baboons.

“So I shot a whole family of baboons,” Fischer wrote below the photo in the email he sent.

He included at least 12 photographs in the email, each containing a caption explaining how they hunted animals.

According to idahonews.com one of the comments in Fischer's email reads: “I shot a Leopard. Super cool, super lucky. The Leopard is one of the big five, as in one of the five animals in Africa that will kill you before you can kill it. Crazy cool animal. They are normally super nocturnal, so this was really unique (sic).”

Outraged people on social media shared the photos, including incendiary and highly critical comments against Fischer.

People have also shared the baboon photo on social media, with calls for his resignation.

However, Fischer has insisted there is no reason for controversy because he did not do anything illegal.

Fischer said he received a list of species in Namibia he could hunt.

He was required to pay a trophy fee for certain animals.

“I didn't do anything illegal. I didn't do anything unethical. I didn't do anything immoral,” Fischer said to US media.

“I look at the way Idaho's fish and game statute says we're supposed to manage all animals for Idaho, and any surplus of animals we have we manage through hunting, fishing and trapping. Africa does the same thing.”

He further said that baboons are free.

“I get it - they're a weird animal. It's a primate, not a deer.”

The Fischer's antics have been compared to the controversial killing of Cecil the lion by an American hunter, an incident that received global attention.

Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta has previously urged trophy hunters not to post photos of their kills on social media, as this can create controversy.

Even though these photos were originally shared in an email, they have now been widely shared on social media.

Shifeta recently announced a ban on posting hunting trophies on social media.

He said photos of trophy-hunted animals are being used by pressure groups “as an excuse to call for a hunting ban”.

“They are very critical and they say the hunters are not ethical.”

ELLANIE SMIT

ACC ponders Namcor probe

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ACC ponders Namcor probeACC ponders Namcor probe TheAnti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is considering whether to launch its own investigation into a damning Namcor forensic report.

The forensic investigation carried out by auditing firm Deloitte reportedly looked into conflict of interest allegations and potential nepotism in the awarding of tenders by Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga. There were claims that Mulunga had tampered with the awarding of a N$2.2 million contract to a Malaysian company, Hyrax Oil, to supply oil products to Namcor, without the board's approval.

In his resignation letter recently, former Namcor board chairperson Patrick Kauta wrote he had handed over the report to the ACC and the ministry of mines and energy, adding there was overwhelming evidence for further investigations to be conducted.

“The Deloitte report contains significant recommendations on the next steps that should be taken in the process.

“The Deloitte investigation report records prima facie evidence of a number of senior Namcor employees, including the MD and three executives having contravened provisions of the Public Procurement Act,” wrote Kauta.

According to him, there were possible contraventions of certain sections of the Anti-Corruption Act, which when read in conjunction with the procurement legislation, would require further investigation on the part of the ACC.





The ACC's head of investigations, Nelius Becker, confirmed receiving the report but said that it was now up to ACC director-general Paulus Noa to decide whether to investigate or not.

“I can confirm that such a report was received and is currently with the director-general of the ACC, pending his decision on whether the ACC will investigate the allegations or not,” Becker said.

Upon delivering the report with its findings, Kauta said: “I do not desire to subject myself to a contravention of the Anti-Corruption Act. I hereby resign, effective immediately, upon delivery of the Deloitte report, in accordance with the letter enclosed herewith to the ACC.”

Mulunga was suspended in December 2017 to pave the way for investigations to be done without any interference, but later returned to his post.

Kauta, who led the board that initiated the audit, was widely believed to be on a crusade to remove Mulunga from Namcor.

The audit, which cost Namcor N$3.2 million, was rejected by Mulunga who claimed it was not budgeted for and was also not subjected to the necessary procurement processes.

This led to a further a governance squabble between himself and Kauta.

It was also previously reported that the board had briefed public enterprises minister Leon Jooste and mines minister Tom Alweendo about their plan to suspend and charge Mulunga, based on the findings of the Deloitte report. The two ministers, however, pulled the plug on this plan and said the board should rather discipline the MD while he is working.

Mulunga was not available for comment, as his cellphone went unanswered yesterday.

OGONE TLHAGE

More NDF promotion 'cooking' exposed

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More NDF promotion 'cooking' exposedMore NDF promotion 'cooking' exposedCorrupt promotions cost the taxpayer A cook was recently promoted to staff sergeant in the NDF and is now working as a mechanic. Swirling allegations of illegal promotions in the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) have deepened, with sources revealing that a cook was promoted to staff sergeant, and ended up as a mechanic in the staff structure.

This comes hot on the heels of Namibian Sun reporting last week that more deserving members are being overlooked in favour of the relatives, children, friends and lovers of NDF bigwigs. Since the publication of these revelations, more soldiers have come forward, claiming this is just the tip of the iceberg.

They said a cook from the 26th Motor Infantry Brigade Company at Grootfontein, with serial number 1 565 on the promotion list, was promoted to staff sergeant on 1 March and is currently serving as mechanic.

“This was pure corruption. This member was a cook posted in the kitchen and now he is a mechanic. The legitimate mechanic's name was removed from the list and replaced with a cook,” one source said.

“As members of the defence force, we are now tired of observing helplessly as this scourge of high corruption continues. We want this rampant promotional corruption to be investigated and drastic action to be taken against the culprits.”

It was reported last week that the NDF promotion policy is being ignored, with some senior commanders being unwilling to constitute promotion committees or boards in their formations and units.

This has allegedly created massive loopholes for promotions based on fraud, forgery and uttering.





In terms of the promotion policy, staff officers can submit the names of deserving, hardworking and capable members for promotion, but these lists are allegedly being manipulated and the names of deserving soldiers replaced with those of relatives, children, friends and lovers of senior members.

Only after the lists are revealed, it then emerges that none of the soldiers who were nominated were in fact promoted.

This has reportedly resulted in the NDF paying hordes of soldiers holding the same position in the staff structure, which was only supposed to accommodate one person.

“These people promoting members are robbing the government. The ministry is paying many people who are doing nothing at all. There are so many ghost posts created through false postings.

“This is painful and it must be investigated. We are demanding for these unfair promotions to be reversed with immediate effect and for criminal charges to be instituted,” a source said.

Another source questioned why only female members were being appointed as company quartermaster sergeants.

“Is this not the highest degree of corruption? We are not young in the force, thus we can no more stand watching this daylight corruption. The criteria used for promotions are based on tribal lines, friendship, favouritism, nepotism and sexual favours,” sources claimed further.

“Sometimes we are being told about critical posts that only exist at some army bases. Are those officers at war or why are their posts critical?”

Defence ministry spokesperson Petrus Shilumbu urged all the complainants to channel their concerns through the chain of command, to the relevant authorities.

He said there are also other relevant bodies, such as the defence inspectorate and military police, which can investigate these allegations and keep management informed, in order for them to take informed decisions.

ILENI NANDJATO

Mutorwa reinstates Gawanas-Vugs

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Mutorwa reinstates Gawanas-Vugs Mutorwa reinstates Gawanas-Vugs Transport minister John Mutorwa has back-flipped on his decision to fire Beverly Gawanas-Vugs from the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) board.
Mutorwa fired the entire NAC board last week, but Gawanas-Vugs approached lawyer Sisa Namandje to challenge her removal.

Nothing for mahala

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Nothing for mahalaNothing for mahalaLocal boxers hunt big international paydays Local boxing board honcho, Hendrik Mapele, says local boxers like former super lightweight world champion Julius Indongo cannot fight for peanuts. Namibia Professional Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (NPBWCB) acting administrator, Hendrik Mapele, says local boxers are rightly hunting big international paydays.

He was responding to questions about whether Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo is still with Dibella Entertainment, amid speculation that the Namibian was used as a springboard by the American boxing stable to position stablemate Regis Prograis for greater glorifies.

Prograis knocked out the hapless Indongo in the second round of their bout earlier this year, which was the Namibian's first fight since losing a unification match-up against Terence Crawford in August last year.

Indongo has kept a relatively low profile since his fight against Prograis, sparking speculation over whether he is still with Dibella Entertainment.

“Indongo is still with the stable. Promoters don't just put up small fights, but look at the status of the boxer and what kind of money he can bring in.

“A person like Indongo cannot fight for peanuts. He is a million-dollar boxer, so sometimes it takes long to secure such a boxer a lucrative fight,” Mapele explained.

“Indongo lost by a knockout; boxing rules stipulate that he needs three months to recover from that. He is a quality boxer and his contract with Dibella states that he will get about two fights yearly.”

Mapele further explained that Americans don't promote silly fights, as they are all about making money.

“Boxing is a money-making business. Americans will not just call up any boxer, only one who they think has quality and can make money for them. So no, Namibian boxers are not being used as a springboard by international promoters.”

Mapele also mentioned Walter 'Executioner' Kautondokwa, who will fight Demetrius Andrade of the United States this coming Saturday for the vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) crown.

“Kautondokwa was not supposed to fight but he stepped in to take on Andrade because he knows the money involved is close to US$2.3 million. Win or lose, the offer is good, so he will not let it go,” Mapele said.

He further emphasised that getting injured can end a boxer's career, so no one will fight for peanuts and risk their career.

“As for the rest of the promoters who fail to explain to the public when we refuse to sanction their fights; please be aware that there are many factors that we look at, like the boxer's age and the state of his health.

“Some boxers don't realise that they are putting themselves at risk, when they decide to fight, knowing that they shouldn't, and then blame us when we follow the rules and refuse to sanction their fights,” Mapele stressed.



Rumour mill

There was also talk recently that Paulus 'El Jesus' Ambunda has signed with a Singapore boxing stable.

However, his trainer from AC Boxing and Fitness Gym, Immanuel 'Imms' Moses, said this is not true.

Moses said Ambunda had been misquoted by a local radio station.

“We received an offer from a boxing stable in Singapore, but we are still looking at the contract; no decision was made,” he said.

Ambunda, who boasts a record of 27 wins and two losses, recently beat Muhamad Ridhwan to claim the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) super bantamweight world title.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Lombard in talks with Turkish side

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Lombard in talks with Turkish sideLombard in talks with Turkish side Versatile defender Teberius 'Tebs' Lombard, who in February signed a three-year deal with top Zambian club Lusaka Dynamos, is believed to be in talks with a so far unnamed Turkish side, who are interested in his services.

The Brave Warriors regular has, however, remained tight-lipped about a possible deal, saying he is not sure about anything at this stage, but hopes the move doesn't fall through.

Lombard is the first Namibian to play in the Zambian top-flight.

He moved there after some impressive performances in the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan).

He impressed many at the biennial continental showpiece in Morocco, with his individual brilliance and no-nonsense defending.

He also walked away with a man of the match accolade during a group clash against Zambia.

Lombard moved to the Zambian league because games are broadcast on SuperSport, thereby exposing him to scouts in South Africa and Europe.

His football career started off at Tura Magic, who he joined in 2008 while the club was still in the first division.

He was then loaned to Orlando Pirates for the 2009/10 Namibia Premier League (NPL) season, before rejoining Magic in 2010/11.

He has 12 national caps and played against Mozambique yesterday in a 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Uulingilingi moNDF onkene tawu e twa polweela

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Uulingilingi moNDF onkene tawu e twa polweelaUulingilingi moNDF onkene tawu e twa polweelaTaku yelwa owala oondikushi Okwa hololwa natango polweela iilonga yuulingilingi mbyoka tayi longwa mEtanga lyEgameno lyaNamibia, ngele tashi ya komayelo miilonga muuministeli mboka. Okwa popiwa kutya omuniilonga gumwe mEtanga lyEgameno ngoka a li omuteleki okwa yelwa nokuningwa staff sergeant, nangashiingeyi okwa ningi omupangeli.

Shoka oshe ya polweela sha landula sho oshifokundaneki shoNamibia Sun sha lopota onkundana kombinga yomanyenyeto okuzilia muuministeli mboka, kutya aaniilonga mboka yiilongela okuyelwa nokupewa oombandi dhopombanda ihaya talika ihe otaku yelwa owala ookuume, aanona, aaholike noofamili dhakomeho muuministeli mboka.

Sha landula onkundana ndjoka, aakwiita oyendji oye ya polwela taya holola kutya hoka okauyelele okashona kowala okuza muuyelele owundji wiinima kayi li pauyuuki mbyoka tayi longwa muuministeli mboka. Oya popi kutya omuteleki okuza ko26th Motor Infantry Brigade Company moGrootfontein, gwonomola 1 565 momusholondndo gwoonakuyelwa okwa ningwa staff sergeant mulyotango lyaMaalitsa ihe ngashiingeyi ota longo onga omupangeli. “Shoka uulingilingi wowala. Omuniilonga ngoka okwa li omuteleki a tulwa pelugo ihe ngashiingeyi omupangeli. Omuniilonga ngoka omupangeli okwa kuthwa mo momusholondondo nopehala lye opwa tulwa omuteleki.” “Onga iilyo yetanga yegameno otwa loloka okukala twa tala onkalo ndjoka yuulingilingi tayi longwa miipathi yetu kehe esiku ihe katu na shoka tatu vulu okuninga. Otwa hala ku ningwe omakonaakono muulingilingi mboka ko kuvulwe okukatukwa oonkatu.” Oonakunyenyeta oya holola kutya omulandu gwomayelo muuministeli mboka ihagu landulwa naashoka osha etitha ookomanda dhi vule okukala owala tadhi gandja oombandi ku mboka yahala.

Oya tsikile kutya omulandu ngoka ihagu landulwa naanambelewa ohaya gandja owala omusholondondo gaakwiita mboka yiilongela okuyelwa na oya pumbwa okupewa olupandu pakuyelwa, nookomanda taya ka ninga nduno omatokolo kutya oolye taya yelwa, nolundji omushoondondo ngoka haya pewa ohagu ka lundululwa yo pehala lyaamboka taya tula po okuume kawo, aakwanezimo, aanona yawo oshowo aaholike yawo, nokonima kwa ningwa omayelo opo owala omuntu haka mona kutya mboka ya li tulwa momusholondondo yamwe po inaya pita mo. Mboka okwa lopotwa haya pingenwa po naantu ya za kiikondo ya yooloka nolundji mboka haya pingenepo aantu kaye na ontseyo ya sha miilonga.

“Aantu mboka taya yele aantu otaya lile epangelo. Uuministeli otawu futu aantu mboka kaye na shoka taya ningi. Ope na oompito odhindji dhiilonga dha totwa po okupitila miikengelela. Onkalo ndjoka otayi ehameke noonkondo, na otatu pula opo kuningwe omalunduluko meendelelo kwaamboka ya pewa ooposa dhoka dhiifundja ko kugeelwe oonakushininga” Onzo yimwe oya pula kutya omolwa shike aakiintu oyo owala haya ulikwa onga company quartermaster sergeants.

Oya nyenyeta kutya oya loloka uukombunda nuukwamuhoko muuministeli unene sho haku gandjwa oompito dhiilonga nomayelo kwiikwatelelwa kuukombunda. Omupopiliko guuministeli mboka, Petrus Shilumbu okwa pula oonakunyenyeta ya gandje omanyenyeto gawo taya longitha omilandu ndhoka dhi li po muuministeli.

ILENI NANDJATO

Oshipangelo shaMbaye tashi futithwa

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Oshipangelo shaMbaye tashi futithwaOshipangelo shaMbaye tashi futithwa Moshipotha shimwe shuuhasha, omukiintu gwomondoolopa yaMbaye ota futitha uuministeli wuundjolowele oshimaliwa sha thika poomiliyona 2.3 omolwa eso lyomona ngoka a tika ombinzi sigo omeso, moshipangelo shepangelo mondoolopa ndjoka.

Omukiintu omunamimvo 20 okwa lopotwa a hulitha sho a tika unene ombinzi konima sho a pulumutha okanona inaka thika okupulumuthwa. Moombaapila dhompangu ndhoka dha gandjwa mOmpangu yoPombanda mOvenduka, Milka Lopez ota gandja uusama kaaniilonga moshipangelo shoka kutya oyo ya etitha eso lyomona, Margaritha Sophia Paula Nghinamwaami, ngoka a hulitha omasiku gane konima sho a pulumutha okanona muFebruali gwomvula yo 2017. Lopez, ngoka ta futitha uuministeli oshimaliwa shoomiliyonan 2.3 okwa popi kutya eso yomona olya etithwa kuuhasha waapangi oshowo oondohotola, moshipangelo shoka, mboka ya ndopa okupanga Nghinamwaami konima yepulumutho lye. Meindilo lye Lopez, okwa popi kutya omona okwa hulitha onga oshizemo sho eehama pethimbo a pulumutha ihe ina pangwa oshilalo shoka a ningi, pethimbo lyokupulumutha. Okwa popi kutya eso lyokamona olya li tali vulu okuyandwa ngele oondohotola naapangi oya li ya kutha ko oshinakugwanithwa shokupanga omukiintu ngoka konima sho a pulumutha. Moombaapila dhuumbangi moshipotha shoka, gumwe ngoka kwa tegelelwa a ka gandje uumbangi Omundohotola, Dr Nadine Agnew, ngoka a holola kutya otaka gandja uumbangi kutya konima sho a ningile omakonaakono olopota yuunamiti moshipotha shoka, okwa mono kutya epulumutho lyokanona kanakusa oshowo konima sho a pulumutha inali ningwa nawa naashoka osha etitha eso lyomukiintu ngoka. Agnew okwa popi kutya uuyelele otawu ulike kutya omundohotola ngoka a li miilonga ina ningila omukiintu ngoka omakonaakono nonando omukiintu okwa pulumutha okanona inaka thika okupulumuthwa. Okwa tsikile kutya Nghinamwaami okwa kwata kuupyakadhi wo post-partum haemorrhage omolwa oshilalo shoka a ningi pethimbo a pulumutha omutenya ihe okwa ka ningilwa owala omakonaakonio komundohotoa lwopotundi onti 21:30 nokufalwa koshitandelo potundi onti 22:00, nopethimbo ndyoka okwa adhika nale a loloka nokwa kwatwa cardiac failure, ombinzi ya londa oshowo a kanitha ombinzi oyindji. “Nakusa okwa kala uule woowili odhindji ina pangwa,”Agnew a popi. Uuministeli owa gandja etseyitho kutya otawu ka pataneka oshipotha shoka. Neyambidhidho okuza kuhahende gweSharen Zenda gwoLegal Assistance Centre (LAC), Lopez, mehokololo lye okwa popi kutya konima sho a thiki poshipangelo omutenya gwomasiku 12 gaFebruali nomona okwa adhika koshitheta nonkalo oyuuka kuuwinayi. Okwa popi kutya omona okwa kanitha ombinzi oyindji pethimbo a pulumutha ihe okwa ka konaakonwa owala komundohotola konguloshi nethimbo ndyoka okwa lata nale. Okwa popi kutya omanga omundohotola a koleke kutya okanona oka valwa inaka thika, okwa ndopa okukonaakona nakupuumutha. Konima yoowili odhindji sho omukiintu ngoka a pulumutha na okwa tsikile okutika ombinzi opo kwiithanwa omundohotoa, na okwa falwa koshitandelo opo a pewe ombinzi. Nghinamwaami ina penduka we. Okwa hololwa kutya okwa hulitha momasiku 19 gaFebruali konima sho a lundululilwa koshipangelo shaWindhoek Central Hospital. Omumwayinakadhona gwaNghinamwaami okwa holola kutya otaka gandja uumbangi kutya omanga mumwayina a li moshitheta, okwa ka konga aapangi opo ye mu kwathele na okwe ya a dha poshitaafula yeli moongodhi dhawo omanga yamwe taya lesha iifo. Okwa tsikile kutya omaihumbato gokwaahenako nasha oga hololwa woo komundohotola ngoka ina pula kombinga yonkalo yomupangwa konima sho okanona ke kapitililepo. Omugandji gumwe guumbangi omundohotola gwonkalo yopamadhiladhilo Shaun Whittaker, ngoka ta ga gandja uumbangi kutya konima sho kala tayi mekwatathano naLopez, okwa mono kutya okwa kwatwa kedhindokano lyombinzi omolwa eso lyomona. Uuministeli wuundjolowele owa tula po omusholondondo gwoonakugandja uumbangi mboka taya ka gandja uumbangi kutya omapopyo kutya eso lyomukiintu ngoka olya etitha kuuhasha, kage shi goshili. Omundohotola Obey Nhiwatiwa, ngoka a li miilonga moshipangelo shaMbaye esiku ndyoka Nghinamwaami a taambela moshipangelo okwa holola kutya otaka gandja uumbangi kutya, konima sho omukiintu ngoka a pulumutha okanona hoka inaka thika okuvalwa, okwa lombwelwa kaapangi kutya okuli nawa na okwa yi opo a ka gandje ekwatho kaapangwa yalwe oshowo iilonga yilwe onga omundohotola e li miilonga. Kongulohi lwopotundi 21:45 okwa dhengelwa ongodhi opo a ye meendelelo a ka gandje eyakulo lyopaulumomhumbwe. Okwa popi kutya Nghinamwaami okwa a li a tulwa ombinzi ihe lwanima okwa ganja elombwelo kutya na tumwe koshipangelo shaVenduka molwaashoka onkalo ye ndjoka ya li ya nayipala noonkondo.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Stabbed to death over a room

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Stabbed to death over a roomStabbed to death over a room Several people were stabbed to death this past weekend.

In one incident, a 64-year-old man killed his 37-year-old cousin by stabbing him with a knife in Wanaheda, after a fight over a room.

This occurred in King Kauluma Street in the Oshitenda informal settlement.

The elderly suspect allegedly stabbed Erastus Ingashipola Mwiikeni three times with a knife in the head, shoulder and back on Saturday, killing him instantly.

It is alleged the two were fighting over the ownership of the room where the deceased lived. Mwiikeni allegedly hit the suspect with a spade on his back and the elderly man retaliated by stabbing him.

The suspect is arrested and police investigations continue.

In another incident, a 16-year-old boy was arrested for stabbing 36-year-old Stefanus Iilonga to death with a knife. It is alleged that Iilonga borrowed money from the suspect, and when he demanded it back, Iilonga could not pay.

This prompted the suspect to stab Iilonga in the chest.

In Saima Amunyela Street in Single Quarters, a fight broke out between 29-year-old Calvin Shiitaka and three other men, during which Shiitaka was stabbed in the chest with a knife. He died instantly. A 30-year-old suspect has been arrested.

A TransNamib worker discovered the body parts of a police officer between the railway lines in Mariental on Saturday. It is suspected that Sergeant Cornelius Dawid Pieters was hit by a train. The TransNamib worker was reporting for work at about 06:45 when he discovered the body parts.

In a separate incident, the body of a 44-year-old man that went missing several months ago in Uis was discovered on a farm.

According to the police, the body of George Gurirab was discovered by a passer-by in a field at Dam 2 Farm in Uis on Friday.

The farm is located about 16km southeast of Uis.

Pieces of clothing found at the scene included a blue jacket and black shorts.

This matches the clothing Gurirab was wearing when he went missing at Uis on 17 March.

The cause of death is unknown and an inquest docket has been opened.

In a separate incident on Friday, a City Police officer committed suicide with his service pistol.

According to the police, 33-year-old constable, Reginald Vries, did not turn up at work after dropping off his colleagues.

This prompted them to look for Vries at his home.

They found Vries in a pool of blood. He had a gunshot to the head. His service pistol was found next to the body.

The motive is unknown and no suicide note was left.



ELLANIE SMIT

Baboon killer resigns

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Baboon killer resignsBaboon killer resigns A United States wildlife official has resigned after coming under fire for sharing photos of a family of baboons and other wild animals he killed on a hunting trip in Namibia.

Blake Fischer, who is a member of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission, was asked to resign by Idaho governor Butch Otter.

It was especially the image of him posing with a family of dead baboons that provoked a massive public outcry.

Otter announced in a statement on Monday he had received Fischer's resignation letter, after he was asked to leave his post.

“I have high expectations and standards for every appointee in state government,” said Otter. “Every member of my administration is expected to exercise good judgment. Fischer did not. Accordingly, I have accepted his resignation from the Idaho Fish and Game Commission.”

According to reports the governor's office received 1 134 emails and more than 320 phone calls about Fischer.

Only nine emails and two phone calls had not condemned Fischer's actions.

While most people acknowledged that trophy hunts are legal in Namibia, they described Fischer's behaviour has unethical, revolting and disgusting.

The controversy was sparked when Fischer emailed photos to more than 100 people in September, after he and his wife returned from their third hunting trip in Namibia.

Included in the email were photos of Fischer and his wife posing with dead animals.

These included a giraffe, a leopard, impala, sable antelope, waterbuck, kudu, warthog, oryx, eland and a family of baboons.

“So I shot a whole family of baboons,” Fischer wrote below the photo in which he is seen posing and smiling with the bloody baboons.

Fischer included at least 12 photographs in the email.

Another comment by Fischer in the email read: “I shot a leopard. Super cool, super lucky. The leopard is one of the big five, as in one of the five animals in Africa that will kill you before you can kill it. Crazy cool animal. They are normally super nocturnal, so this was really unique (sic).”

Fischer apologised for his behaviour in his resignation letter, which was released by the Idaho governor's office.

“I recently made some poor judgements that resulted in sharing photos of a hunt in which I did not display an appropriate level of sportsmanship and respect for the animals I harvested.

“While these actions were out of character for me, I fully accept responsibility and feel it is best for the citizens of Idaho and sportsmen and women that I resign my post.

“I apologise to the hunters and anglers of Idaho who I was appointed to represent and I hope that my actions will not harm the integrity and ethic of the Idaho fish and game department moving forward,” Fischer wrote.

He had previously insisted there was no reason for controversy because he did not do anything illegal.



ELLANIE SMIT

Family's ordeal finally ends

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Family's ordeal finally endsFamily's ordeal finally endsRebuild their home Ombili family finally receive their building materials back and reconstruct their home. A family that had been living on the streets for over six weeks, after the Helao Nafidi town council dismantled their shack and confiscated their aluminium sheeting and other materials, has rebuilt their home.

When Namibian Sun visited the family on Monday, Johannes Haufiku, Saara Kamati and their two children, including a one-year-old baby, were no longer living in fear out in the open.

The family, who also live with a nine-year-old disabled boy, Mesias Shifoleni, were left fearful and helpless for several weeks.

This had been their plight since 28 August, when they were unceremoniously left homeless by the town council, which has given conflicting versions for why the family's shack was dismantled.

When asked how they managed to retrieve their materials from the council, Haufiku said he went to the municipality under the pretext that he is going to move permanently out of Helao Nafidi and he needed his items.

“Because of everything the Helao Nafidi town council did from the onset was not truthful, I had to think like a man in order to get my things back. After getting my things back I then decided to put up my structure, as it had been,” Haufiku said.

Asked if he was not afraid of getting into trouble with the council, Haufiku confidently said the municipality never had a problem with him.

He said the council must deal with whatever issues it has with Kamati.

The family told Namibian Sun several weeks ago they received a letter dated 20 August from town council CEO Inge Ipinge, which ordered Kamati to remove her structure by 24 August or else the council would do it. On 28 August at around 11:00, council officials arrived in the company of police officers and dismantled their home.

According to the letter, the council's actions followed after it received complaints from Ombili residents about Kamati's bad behaviour, as well as about criminal activities happening at the premises.

When contacted for comment at the time, Ipinge veered from the reasons given in his 20 August letter.

He claimed because Kamati was formerly a resident of the Katwitwi informal settlement, she was not supposed to move to Ombili, but should rather have moved to an area where Katwitwi residents were relocated to.

“I have put back what is mine and it is not Kamati's. She is just living with me because she is the mother of my children. If they come again they should know that this is my house and I will not allow them to do as they wish, like the first time. They must deal with Kamati and not me; I want to live in peace,” Haufiku said. Namibian Sun understands the council is willing to relocate Kamati to either extension 1 or 7, where former Katwitwi residents were moved to, and want the entire family to move.

However, Haufiku said if Kamati is given an erf by the council, it would be because she is a former resident of Katwitwi, and it won't be his property.

“That will not be my property, it will be hers… I am also waiting for the day the Helao Nafidi town council will remove all of us from Ombili and move us to serviced areas,” he said.

Attempts to get comment from Ipinge proved futile at the time of going to print.



KENYA KAMBOWE

Ford unveils new China SUV

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Ford unveils new China SUVFord unveils new China SUVEyes sales boost next year US carmaker Ford Motor Co unveiled a new China sport utility vehicle (SUV) on Tuesday. With Ford’s relatively low market share it still presents an enormous opportunity for Ford- Peter Fleet, China and Asia chief, Ford The company said its plan to release a spate of new models will help turn around tumbling sales in the world’s top auto market from the start of next year.

Ford, fighting to recover from a severe sales slump in China, will start selling the entry-level SUV, called the “Territory”, early next year. The car is jointly developed with local partner Jiangling Motors Corp Ltd (JMC).

The car, based on a no-frills model from JMC, is aimed at appealing to consumers in China’s smaller, so-called lower-tier cites, which have been a major engine of growth in the market over the last decade. It would compete with models from local firms like Geely and Great Wall Motor.

The SUV is one of the 50 new or redesigned vehicles Ford has said it plans to launch in China starting this year and through 2025, which include the redesigned Ford Focus car due to hit showrooms later in 2018.

“All these vehicles - the Ford Territory, the Ford Focus and the Ford Escort... they will all start to make their volume retail contributions in the first quarter (of 2019)”, Peter Fleet, Ford’s China and Asia chief, told reporters on a call.

Still, Ford’s new SUV hits the market at a time demand for such cars in smaller cities across China has started to cool. China’s car sales fell the most in nearly seven years in September, hit by cooling economic growth.

Ford’s vehicle sales fell 43% in September from a year earlier and are down 30% in the first nine months of 2018 from the same period last year. Ford blames its weak China business on an aging model lineup that is awaiting an overhaul.

Fleet, talking from the Chinese port city of Qingdao where he was showing off the new SUV for the first time, brushed off concerns about slowing growth in small cities, and said Ford’s 650 local dealers would help the model succeed.

“It’s still of course an enormous industry. With Ford’s relatively low market share it still presents an enormous opportunity for Ford,” he said.

He added the firm was not currently seeing any impact from a blistering trade war between China and the United States, which had seen some imported Ford and Lincoln brand cars held up at Chinese ports earlier this year.

“We did earlier in the year (have) some slowdown which was reported. We have none of those issues currently on customs clearance.”

-Nampa/Reuters

Around 100 000 Opel vehicles to be recalled

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Around 100 000 Opel vehicles to be recalledAround 100 000 Opel vehicles to be recalled Germany’s Transport Ministry said on Monday it would order roughly 100 000 Opel vehicles to be recalled as part of an emissions probe, after prosecutors searched the carmaker’s offices earlier in the day.

German motor vehicle authority KBA found four software programs capable of altering vehicle emissions in 2015, and ordered Opel to implement a software update in cars to remove them, Germany’s transport ministry said in a statement.

“After a fifth software device was discovered in early 2018, which KBA found to be illegal, there is currently an official hearing going on with the goal of imposing a mandatory recall for the models Cascada, Insignia and Zafira,” the ministry said in a statement.

The transport ministry said Opel had dragged its feet on the hearing. The KBA had told Frankfurt prosecutors about the software device in April, it said.

“The official recall of the affected roughly 100 000 vehicles will take place shortly,” it added.

Opel said in a statement it rejected any accusation of using illegal defeat devices that can manipulate exhaust emission tests, also denying it was procrastinating.

“Should (a mandatory recall) be ordered, Opel will challenge it legally,” said the carmaker .

German prosecutors searched offices at Opel’s sites in Ruesselsheim and Kaiserslautern earlier on Monday.

The Frankfurt prosecutor’s office said it was probing 95 000 vehicles equipped with Euro 6d engines.

PSA Group, which owns the Opel and Vauxhall brands, declined to comment.

The Opel Insignia, Zafira and Cascada were developed when Opel and its sister brand Vauxhall were still owned by General Motors. General Motors sold Opel to PSA Group in 2017.

Opel admitted in 2016 that its Zafira model contained engine software which switched off exhaust emissions treatment systems under certain circumstances. Opel insisted at the time that it was making use of a legal loophole.

-Nampa/Reuters

Erratic rain expected

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Erratic rain expectedErratic rain expectedSeason will be better but not outstanding Farmers should brace themselves for a below-average rainfall season. With October rains yet to fall in Namibia, dam levels are alarmingly low and the seasonal outlook for rain does not look promising.

Dam levels in Namibia this week dropped to 36% in comparison to last year when the total stood at 48.5%.

Meanwhile, most parts of southern Africa, including Namibia, are expected to receive erratic rainfall in the 2018/19 agricultural season, according to the latest outlook.

Not only is it predicted that seasonal rainfall in Namibia will be normal to below normal, temperatures are also expected to be either normal to above normal throughout the season.

According to the 22nd Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF), southern Africa is expected to receive erratic rainfall in the 2018/19 agricultural season with normal to below-normal rainfall across most of the region, except for Tanzania.

The outlook shows that most of the 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including Namibia, are likely to receive “normal to below-normal” rainfall for the period October 2018 to March 2019.

The forecast is divided into two half-seasons, from October to the end of December 2018 and from January to the end of March 2019.

According to the forecast areas likely to receive normal to below-normal rainfall from October to December 2018 include eastern Angola, the extreme northern and southern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), western and southern Madagascar, southern Malawi, most of Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as most of Namibia and South Africa.

The rainfall forecast does not change much during the second half of the season from January to March 2019 when most of the region is still expected to receive normal to below-normal rainfall.

The areas forecast to get increased chances of normal to below normal rainfall in that period are Angola, the northern tip of Botswana, the Comoros, the south-eastern DRC, northern Malawi, Madagascar, Mauritius, north-eastern Mozambique, only northern Namibia, Seychelles, southern Tanzania, and the western and northern regions of Zambia.

Throughout October to December there are increased chances of temperatures in Namibia are predicted to be normal to above normal.

Climate experts have forecast an early onset of the 2018/19 season, a false start, which could be followed by prolonged dry spells that disturb the timing and spatial distribution of rainfall around the region.

In particular, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is forecast as likely to shift from neutral to the warm phase referred to as El Niño during the forthcoming season.

It said for most of the SADC region, rainfall is forecast to be insufficient to meet the needs of the agricultural and power generation sectors.

The region should, therefore, brace for erratic rains or even drought conditions over large portions of southern Africa, except for Tanzania and other areas predicted to have higher rainfall only in the second half-season.

The associated agricultural risks include limited water availability, poor grazing and heat stress that could affect both crops and livestock.

SARCOF therefore said that more effective early warning systems and community-based early action without the requisite control measures may trigger mass displacement as people flee a perceived threat to their survival.

It said normal to below-normal rainfall has the potential to cause competition for resources between pastoralists and farmers which may increase the risk of conflict and violence and with displacement. Also it can create competition for water resources resulting in conflict between upstream and downstream farmers and conflict between wildlife and people.



ELLANIE SMIT

Small-stock scheme hotly debated

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Small-stock scheme hotly debatedSmall-stock scheme hotly debated The Livestock Producers' Organisation (LPO) last week successfully held its annual congress with a wide range of topics impacting the sector, that were discussed.

The Small-Stock Marketing Scheme (SSMS), which brought the small stock industry to its knees, brought about a heated debate with representatives of the sector who felt that recommendations made the ombudsman, John Walters, should be implemented. The ombudsman's recommendation to the Meat Board was that the scheme should be abolished and that the ratio requirements must be waived for a period of no less than three years in order for the Meat Board to monitor the impact on the restoration and economic recovery of the sheep sector.

Walters, who also visited the congress, could not indicate whether the agriculture ministry had responded to his report.

Meat Board's Goliath Tujendapi spoke about livestock marketing, while acting CEO of Meat board Jannie Breytenbach informed the congress about the company's turnaround strategy and performance.

Dr Johannes Shoopala from the agriculture ministry's veterinary services gave feedback on diseases and Namibia's animal health status.

The Namibian Agricultural Union's (NAU) commodity manager Harald Markgraaff also informed and motivated producers to comply with FANMeat standards, while the newly appointed agricultural economist at the NAU Bertha Ijambo presented the Cost Production Index and indicated that the high weaner prices are currently putting cattle producers in a better position, but that effective farming is still needed to survive.

Wildlife issues were also on the agenda with Dr Pauline Lindeque of Agra Provision who gave an insightful talk about the initiatives launched to realise more value on game meat.

Piet Gouws was been re-elected as the chairman of the LPO.

STAFF REPORTER

Company news in brief

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Company news in briefCompany news in brief Pick n Pay H1 profit jumps

South African supermarket chain Pick n Pay Stores yesterday said half-year profit before tax jumped 19.1% as price cuts attracted more shoppers to its stores.

The country's second-biggest grocery store chain reported profit before tax of R670.2 million for the six months ended August, compared with R562.8 million the same period last year on a normalised basis.

South African shoppers are feeling the impact of low growth in disposable income, little to no job creation and tight credit conditions.

Like-for-like sales climbed 3.8%, more than double the previous half-year's growth. Total sales rose to R41.2 billion, up 6.4%.

Normalised headline earnings per share climbed 17% to 100.18 cents, the retailer said. It declared an interim dividend of 39.10 cents per share, up 17.1%. – Nampa/Reuters

De Beers’ rough diamond sales up y-o-y

De Beers yesterday said it sold US$475 million worth of rough diamonds in its eighth sales cycle of 2018, up US$99 million or about 26% from the same cycle in 2017.

The group sold US$503 million worth of rough diamonds in its seventh cycle of 2018.

Bruce Cleaver, CEO of the De Beers Group, said: “While the rupee-US dollar exchange rate has impacted demand for lower value categories, we continue to see steady overall demand for De Beers Group rough diamonds, reflecting ongoing consumer demand for diamond jewellery in the US.” – Press release

BHP doubles stake in Ecuador copper project

The world's biggest miner BHP yesterday nearly doubled its stake in SolGold Plc, bolstering its position against top shareholder Newcrest Mining as it eyes SolGold's promising Cascabel copper-gold project in Ecuador.

BHP, which bought in to SolGold just six weeks ago, has paid almost US$60 million to increase its holding to 11.2%, not far off the 14.5% stake held by Newcrest, Australia's biggest listed gold miner.

The mining giant has described Cascabel as a high-quality copper exploration project, while Ecuador is seen as a highly prospective region with geology similar to top copper producer Chile.

Under the deal, BHP will pay SolGold 45 million pounds (US$59.2 million) for 100 million new shares in the company, at a 28% premium to the stock's last close, taking its total spend on the developer to US$85 million.

In common with other miners that have recovered from the price crash of 2015/16, BHP is seeking new opportunities to expand its copper portfolio. – Nampa/Reuters

Beer lovers face price spikes, shortages

Climate change will brew trouble for beer lovers in coming decades as it shrinks yields of barley, the top grain used to make the world's most popular alcoholic drink, a study published on Monday said.

Extreme weather events featuring both heat waves and droughts will occur as often as every two or three years in the second half of the century if temperatures rise at current rates, the study said.

Average global barley yields during extreme events are expected to drop between 3% and 17%, depending on the conditions, said the study, published in the journal Nature Plants.

Less barley will mean beer shortages and price spikes. Under the hottest scenario, China will suffer the most shortages this century, followed by the United States, Germany, and Russia, it said.

Prices will spike the most in Ireland, Italy, Canada and Poland. During the extreme climate events, prices for a 500 millilitre bottle, slightly more than a pint, in Ireland will rise from about US$2.50 to US$5.00. – Nampa/Reuters

Volvo warns engines may exceed emission limits

Sweden's Volvo said yesterday an emissions control component used in its vehicles was degrading more quickly than expected, which could cause engines to exceed emission limits for nitrogen oxides, sending its stock down sharply.

The company, which makes trucks, construction equipment and buses, said the largest volume of potentially affected engines had been sold in North America and Europe, its two largest markets, and that costs to fix the problem "could be material".

The issue could become an added headache for Volvo, which has been working hard to protect profitability after a surge in demand in Europe and North America caused supply chain bottlenecks, inflating costs for raw materials and labour.

Volvo, which sold 143 373 trucks in Europe and North America last year, said it was in the process of informing authorities.

A spokesman said Volvo had spoken to authorities in North America and Europe, where emission regulations are strictest, but there were no plans yet to recall any vehicles. – Nampa/Reuters

Mutorwa reinstates Gawanas-Vugs

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Mutorwa reinstates Gawanas-VugsMutorwa reinstates Gawanas-Vugs Transport minister John Mutorwa has reversed his decision to fire Beverly Gawanas-Vugs from the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) board.

Mutorwa fired the entire NAC board last week, but Gawanas-Vugs approached lawyer Sisa Namandje to challenge her removal.

She was the acting board chairperson at the time of her removal.

Defending his decision to remove Gawanas-Vugs last week, Mutorwa said: “I just removed her. I have my reasons to remove her. After extensive consultations, my ultimate decision was to remove her.”

However, yesterday Mutorwa said: “I concede that some provisions of the Companies Act might not or could not have been scrupulously and fully adhered to, neither appropriately considered, during the process of taking the decision to remove Gawanas-Vugs as a member of the NAC board of directors.

“Consequently, she is hereby reinstated as an ordinary board member of the NAC, with immediate effect.”

Last week, Mutorwa announced changes to the NAC board, naming Leake Hangala as the board chair while Irene Visser replaced Gawanas-Vugs.

Gawanas-Vugs had been acting as board chairperson following the resignation of Rodgers Kauta two months ago. Her term was only due to expire in July next year.

Her lawyer, Sisa Namandje, confirmed that he was preparing an urgent court application in a bid to reverse Gawanas-Vugs's removal from the board.

In a letter to Mutorwa on Friday, Namandje wrote that the Airports Company Act did not give the minister the right to remove directors and demanded that his client be reinstated by close of business on Friday.

“We have advised our client that quite apart from the fact that our client was not given reasonable and fair notice of her removal and was further not given a fair and reasonable opportunity to make representation as to why she cannot be removed as board member, the minister did not follow any statutory processes in terms of the Companies Act of 2004,” he wrote.

OGONE TLHAGE

New twist in Kahimise study loan drama

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New twist in Kahimise study loan dramaNew twist in Kahimise study loan dramaManagement committee chair admits mistake The mayor of Windhoek, the chairman of the Management Committee and the municipality's human resource department all approved a N$150 000 study loan to CEO Robert Kahimise. A study loan that forms the basis of an alleged politically motivated attempt to suspend Windhoek CEO Robert Kahimise was approved by the human resources department and management committee (MC) chairperson Matheus Amadhila.

In an internal MC memorandum, dated 3 October and signed by Amadhila, he admits that he approved the loan as chairperson without the input of the entire MC.

Namibian Sun last week reported that councillors were questioning the motive of the alleged move to suspend Kahimise on the basis of the loan approval. They said the error could easily have been fixed with a retroactive approval, as had been done on several other occasions.

This time, some believe, the alleged not infrequent administrative blunder is being used to get rid of Kahimise because of infighting among councillors.

In his letter, Amadhila writes that while he regrets approving the loan without the input of his MC colleagues, his decision was motivated by the fact that Kahimise's management studies would benefit the City of Windhoek's operations.

“This was a genuine oversight on my part and I had no intention of undermining the authority of the management committee or my colleagues of the management committee as a whole. This study has strategic relevance to the authority and falls within the purpose and relevance of the challenges we face in terms of funding, as you may be aware.”

Amadhila's letter concludes with a plea to the members of the management committee to “condone this approval of the private study aid to the chief executive officer … for the reasons stated.”

Further documents seen by Namibian Sun show that Kahimise in February applied for a close to N$150 000 loan, noting that his studies would look at the “complexity of challenges facing the City of Windhoek”, and in particular at devising a sustainable funding model for the city. Apart from being approved by Amadhila, the loan was also approved by Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua and the human resources department, documents show.

Squabbling councillors

The infighting at the City of Windhoek was revealed last week after an open letter addressed to urban development minister Peya Mushelenga in which city councillors Brunhilde Cornelius (RDP), Josef Kauandenge (Nudo) and Ignatius Semba (PDM) wrote that during a closed-door meeting attended by some MC members, but not by Amadhila or the mayor, the suspension was proposed on the grounds of the alleged irregular approval of the study loan.

The three councillors argued that those gunning for the CEO were disgruntled because of Kahimise's successful efforts to bring the city's unruly house, and spending, in order.

Kauandenge said he was optimistic about a reported meeting between the Swapo MC members and Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa yesterday.



A good deed or not?

In a public statement issued yesterday, Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua publicly admitted that a fraud allegation against the city's legal adviser, Benedictus Ngairorue, was the result of his direct intervention on behalf of an elderly citizen in 2013.

Ngairorue, who was debt manager in 2013, was accused of tampering with documents linked to outstanding debts of the late Frieda Kahaanga, a war veteran who owed the municipality about N$54 000.

Kazapua yesterday confirmed that after Kahaanga approached him in tears in 2013, informing him that her property had been foreclosed, he gave instructions to Ngairorue “to rectify the situation and accordingly to collect the debt as required”.

He said the matter was reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission and the office of the prosecutor-general decided to prosecute Ngairorue.

Kazapua admitted he wrote to the prosecutor-general's office “to reconsider her decision” on the advice that she could retract the decision to prosecute. “It was on that moral basis that I approached the office. This decision was taken in consultation with the Swapo Khomas Regional Office.”

Kazapua said in an affidavit that the manager in question “acted in accordance with my directives and that I was duty bound to act as a leader and would not allow a vulnerable elder to lose her property.”

Several attempts were made yesterday to obtain comment from Swapo councillor Moses Shiikwa, who had publicly objected to the suspension of City Police chief Abraham Kanime, as well as Kahimise and Amadhila, but none could be reached.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Buy-A-Brick initiative targets 1000 houses

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Buy-A-Brick initiative targets  1000 housesBuy-A-Brick initiative targets 1000 housesOther cooperates come on board The Buy-A-Brick Initiative spearheaded by Standard Bank Namibia and the Shack Dwellers Federation has set a target of ­delivering 1000 houses every year in different towns across the country. Join us in this noble fight against homelessness and the mushrooming of shacks across our towns throughout Namibia. - Vetumbuavi Mungunda, CEO, Standard Bank Namibia These houses are meant for Namibians in the low-­to-no income groups after ­co-partners in the private sector expressed interest in funding the ­programme.

Standard Bank Namibia chief executive Vetumbuavi Mungunda told guests at the launch of the fourth Buy-A Brick initiative in Windhoek on Thursday that plans are in place to scale up the initiative into a national project after mobile telecommunications operator MTC and diversified entity Bidvest indicated interest in taking the project further through joint efforts with other corporates.

Mungunda called on like-minded corporates in both the public and private sectors to come on board and help in mobilising funding and finding solutions to the housing crisis.

“Please join this initiative and let's make a difference by providing a home to those who may have lost hope,” Mungunda said.

He said plans are already in place to delineate the Buy-A-Brick initiative from Standard Bank to allow for more corporate participation.

“To this end, we are inviting our corporate sector and the public to join us in making the Buy-A-Brick Initiative…the focal point of efforts to finding lasting solutions for the over 500 000 Namibians that are unemployed or are under-employed.”

A new steering committee will soon be appointed to spearhead the task of mobilising funds and finding alternative building methods that would help in reducing the cost of building and the duration of construction.

Mungunda said the steering committee's Terms of Reference are expected to be finalised over the next six months.

“Since 2015, when we first launched the Buy-a-Brick Initiative, very few people would have predicted that this project would evolve into a big national project that it is today,” the Standard Bank Namibia chief executive said.

“Join us in this noble fight against homelessness and the mushrooming of shacks across our towns throughout Namibia.”

Thinus Smit, MTC acting managing director, said the Buy-A-Brick initiative is arguably one of the most innovative, sustainable and successful campaigns that have ever been launched in Namibia.

“MTC is proud to have been associated with this initiative this year with an investment of N$800 000.

“I wish to commend the dedication of the Shack Dwellers Federation network, a network of visionaries, dedicated men and women who have decided to fight the housing crisis in Namibia. I wish to assure them that they are not alone because MTC has now joined this fight through this initiative,” Smit said

Deputy minister of urban and rural development, Derek Klazen, who was the guest of honour at Thursday's launch, thanked Standard Bank Namibia and its partners for joining the struggle to alleviate the housing challenge and for addressing affordable land and shelter issues in the country.

He said government will continue to support families to acquire shelter.

Corruption claims taint army

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Corruption claims taint armyCorruption claims taint army Namibian Sun lifted the veil last week on corruption allegations in the Namibia Defence Force (NDF), where deserving soldiers are allegedly being overlooked for promotions, in favour of the relatives, children, friends and lovers of military bigwigs.

There are also other serious allegations, which include the NDF apparently paying hordes of soldiers holding the same position in the staff structure, who are shadowing those legitimately in these posts.

The NDF's 26th Brigade at Grootfontein and 263rd Battalion at Oshakati have been accused of promoting “systematic corruption” in the force's promotion policy.

A new allegation emerged this week detailing how a cook was promoted to staff sergeant and ended up as a mechanic. It was also exposed that due to the past eight years of promotions, ten warrant officers, 11 staff sergeants and 18 sergeants are occupying three positions at the 26th Brigade, while eight warrant officers, nine staff sergeants and 12 corporals are occupying three positions in the 263rd Battalion. Since the publication of these revelations, more soldiers have come forward, claiming this is just the tip of the iceberg. For many years now allegations of nepotism and favouritism have emerged in the country's armed forces.

It also seems certain that the NDF leadership has failed to deal with corruption, despite disgruntled members bringing these allegations to their attention over the years.

A thorough investigation was supposed to have been conducted with supreme speed, because these kinds of issues affect morale.

The NDF is already under fire for its secretive spending culture and the latest allegations of corruption in its promotion policy will not only taint its reputation, but compromise national security. Therefore, it is imperative that the army is subjected to an internal audit by an independent body, to ensure that the corruption allegations receive unprecedented attention.

We implore the government to deal with the plight of our deserving soldiers, who have been victimised and overlooked due to nepotism.
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